The countdown to Christmas is officially underway, and Advent is even closer, with December 1 now just over two weeks away. If you’re looking for a fun way to mark the days until Christmas, or want to treat someone special to an early festive surprise, a beauty advent calendar is a perfect pick.

While some of them can be on the pricier side, they often deliver fantastic value for money. This year, I’ve been lucky enough to get a sneak peek at some of the most exciting calendars hitting the shelves. Yes, I took on the very important challenge of opening a few early to see which ones are truly worth your money.

Although a few can be a bit of a splurge, many offer brilliant savings, and plenty are a great way to try out a wide range of high-value goodies for a fraction of the usual cost.

But with Christmas fast approaching, many calendars are already starting to sell out thanks to high demand (like my absolute top value for money calendar from Holland & Barrett). Luckily, some of my favourites are still in stock right now, and these are the ones I think are well worth spending your money on.

I’ve rounded up my top picks based on value for money, the number of items inside, and, of course, how good they’ll look displayed on your shelf or sideboard throughout the festive countdown.

Marks & Spencer’s Beauty Advent Calendar has been reimagined for 2025 in collaboration with fashion designer Bella Freud, as part of a wider collection she’s released with the high street retailer, including quirky homeware and her iconic, cult-favourite slogan knits. She’s brought her signature punky aesthetic to this year’s Advent calendar, which is a sleek black box sprinkled with gold twinkling stars. I absolutely love how this one looks and, while it’s more of a gift box than a traditional Advent calendar with doors, I think it would look gorgeous on display (and you could use the box again).

Thanks to an ongoing deal at M&S, one of the main standouts of this calendar is the value for money. Though it’s worth £330 (and retails for that exact amount if you buy it on its own), shoppers who spend £35 on fashion, beauty or homeware in-store or online at M&S can get the calendar for just £60, which works out to be a saving of around 81%.

And there’s plenty to enjoy inside. You’ll find 25 beautifully packaged, numbered boxes to open each day during the countdown. Inside is a curated mix of skincare, makeup and fragrance, all selected by M&S beauty experts. And it’s not just own-brand products either. There are plenty of big-name favourites tucked in there too, including Prai, Estée Lauder and Emma Hardie.

Even if you don’t love every single item, the fact that each product is individually packaged means you could easily split them up and re-wrap them as Secret Santa gifts or stocking fillers.

The main thing to remember, though, is that to unlock the £60 deal, you’ll need to spend £35 on eligible items first.

It might be one of the priciest calendars I’ve opened, but the L’Occitane Advent Calendar is definitely up there with my favourites. Maybe I’m a little biased, I’ve always been a fan of the brand (their Almond Shower Oil makes shower time feel like a real treat), but this calendar has such a great mix of products that let you try a little bit of everything.

This one is definitely made for*luxury skincare lovers, though the selection inside is surprisingly varied. You’ll find facial skincare, moisturisers, bath and shower goodies, skin oils, and even haircare. If you’re already a L’Occitane fan and want to explore more of their range, it’s a brilliant way to test out new products before committing to the full-size versions.

I was especially happy to see the 30ml Overnight Reset Serum from the anti-ageing Immortelle range saved for Day 24. It’s worth £62 on its own, so that final reveal definitely feels like a special treat. It was also a great chance to try the Immortelle Divine Cream and Precious Cleansing Oil (though I do wish these two had been slightly bigger).

But it’s not just about what’s inside with this calendar, it’s a truly unique on the outside too. The design is 3D, shaped like a traditional French provincial house. Numbered doors are tucked away all around for you to hunt through, and there’s even a secret window that pops out of the roof to reveal the most luxurious treat on Day 24. It would make a wonderful gift for any L’Occitane lover.

Now, yes, it’s on the pricey side at almost £150, but according to the brand, the total value of the products inside comes to £276.50. So you’re getting a 46% saving compared to buying everything individually.

Lookfantastic’s Advent Calendar is one of my favourites for value for money and the sheer savings alone. While I haven’t managed to get my hands on this one, having looked at the range of big-name and full-size products inside, and calculated the value of the calendar overall, it’s a real showstopper. The calendar retails for £105, which, while not the cheapest, is certainly not the most expensive out there either (Neal’s Yard, for example, is one of the priciest I’ve reviewed this year at £165). However, the contents are worth £665, which is an impressive saving of 84% based on the price of products if bought individually.

And I’m not the only one recognising the hype around this calendar. In fact, its popularity meant a waiting list started before the calendar was even on sale.

Aesthetically, it makes a statement. It’s a bold, red box shaped like a vault that opens out to reveal numbered doors you open each day (in true Advent calendar style).

But unlike most competitors, this calendar doesn’t stop at 25 surprises. This year’s edition actually includes 28 beauty and makeup treats hidden inside. Best of all, 17 of them are full-sized.

Inside, you’ll find big names like MAC, Sol de Janeiro, REN, Rodial, Elemis and Molton Brown (just to name a few). There’s also a solid mix of goodies across makeup, skincare, hair care, makeup brushes and accessories, vitamins, and even a candle.